In March 2020, the Academy and its partners in the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) were commissioned by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance FRS FMedSci to identify the interventions needed in the UK’s built environment and transport systems to reduce infection transmission.
The Academy in partnership with the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) have undertaken a two-phase programme of work on infection resilient environments. The programme set out to understand how to overcome the barriers to infection resilience.
What is infection resilience?
Infection resilience is the use of engineering controls in the built environment and public transport to minimise the risk of the transmission of infections to individuals. Improving infection resilience requires a broad range of interventions to existing infrastructure. These range across occupancy standards, contactless technologies, plumbing and drainage systems and ventilation systems. These can be deployed in public and commercial spaces (places of work and leisure, specialist settings such as hospitals, schools, care homes, transport hubs and carriages), to protect public health during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phase 1
Phase 1 delivered a rapid review outlining the actions required to develop infection resilience in the short term.
NEW: Phase 2
Phase 2 takes a systems view of the transformational change required on how to commission, design, manage and operate buildings and transport systems, to create healthier, more sustainable environments for all who use them.
Related Projects
The National Engineering Policy Centre
The National Engineering Policy Centre brings engineering thinking to the heart of policymaking, creating positive impa…
Net Zero
Taking a systems approach to achieving net zero by 2050
Air Quality
An overview of the role of engineering in reducing the harmful health effects of air pollution